Host it and they will come.
That was definitely the case for the Oxford Public Library when it hosted ‘The Way We Worked,? a traveling Smithsonian Institute exhibition focused on the evolution of labor in America, from Dec. 6 through Feb. 1.
Library Director Bryan Cloutier reported the facility welcomed 15,416 guests during the exhibit’s run.
‘That is typically more than what we would get during that period,? he said.
The library had 7,153 guests in December and 8,263 in January. Cloutier noted that includes people of all ages and both residents and non-residents alike.
Every fifth and sixth-grader in the Oxford school district toured the exhibit along with students from neighboring districts, groups of home-school students and scout troops, according to Cloutier.
During the month of January, the library conducted 19 programs and had 1,247 people attend them. Seventeen of those programs were specifically related to the exhibit.
‘That’s just adult programs,? Cloutier noted. ‘I don’t have all of my programming numbers in yet.?
It’s clear to Cloutier that more people were exposed to the library as a result of the exhibit. Even though it’s gone, he said, ‘We’re still seeing new faces in the library.?
‘People that we really didn’t see here before, people who were not necessarily folks who frequented the library are now coming and using the library for other reasons,? Cloutier continued. ‘During the time that Smithsonian exhibit was here, they had an opportunity, perhaps in some cases for the first time, to come into our facility (and) see firsthand all of the many types of services that the library provides here in this community.?
Although the library benefited greatly from the exhibit’s presence, Cloutier believes its impact extended far beyond the facility’s walls.
‘I think the community in general, the whole community, has been benefited from it being here,? he said. ‘It brought (together) different organizations, different companies, different people who have been in this community for a long time. It really provided an opportunity for us to understand who we are and what our community is about. (That’s) the most important element of it.?
Cloutier is definitely pleased with the results. ‘I didn’t set out down this path for personal gratification,? he said. ‘It was certainly all meant to make our library stronger, to make our community stronger, to bring people together. And I think we were able to accomplish that.
‘As long as we were able to do that and do that successfully, then, on a personal level, I’m more than satisfied with the results.?
When asked if the library plans to pursue other exhibit opportunities like this in the future, Cloutier replied, ‘Yes, definitely yes.?
‘I’m going to be working closely with the Michigan Humanities Council in the coming months to see what opportunities are available and to see if we might be able to host another future traveling Smithsonian exhibit,? he said. ‘It’s definitely something that we’ve learned a lot from and although it was a lot of work, we saw the benefits of having an opportunity like this.?
Cloutier believes the library is a ‘key component? when it comes to sharing a resource like a Smithsonian exhibit with the community and ‘providing educational opportunities that perhaps otherwise would not be made readily available to a small town like ours.?
‘We’ve proven that we are capable of being that outlet and (we’ve) proven that (we) are capable of bringing many people together from many different facets of our community, from nonprofit to government to corporate to everyday people,? he said. ‘Certainly, we’re going to tap into that and keep the momentum going.?